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The Williamson Tunnels in Edge Hill , ( Liverpool ) are a collection of apparently pointless Tunnel s built by local men employed by Joseph Williamson from the early 1800's to 1840 . THE TUNNELS The tunnels are in an area to the east of the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral in a rectangle bordered by Mason Street, Grinfield Street, Smithdown Lane and Paddington. They run beneath the brow of the 'Edge Hill', which is one of the highest points in Liverpool. The reason for their creation is unknown. The most common presumption is that they were constructed to provide employment during the economic recession following the Napoleonic Wars . If this is true then the tunnels may be the oldest known Job Creation Scheme . Other less widely-held theories include preparing a refuge from Armageddon, secret passageways for secret activities; or the simple belief that he was eccentric and it was a folly for him. A more recent and logical theory is that the tunnels served the purpose of Land Reclamation . The site of the tunnels was previously an open Sandstone quarry for at least 200 years before Williamson purchased the land at a cheap rate from the Waste Land Commission. This quarry consisting of a wide range of holes of varying depths meant that during the early 1800 s this void was land unsuitable for anything. Williamson recognised the potential of the land he purchased in the area and made use of this void by encouraging his men to build but occasionally out of sandstone. These arches started at the edge of the holes from the quarry and could support a great weight above them. Therefore the first formation of the tunnels was likely to provide support for the terraced gardens of his houses on Mason Street. JOSEPH WILLIAMSON Joseph Williamson was a 19th-century Philanthropist , tobacco merchant, property owner and pioneer of tunnels. He was born on 10 March 1769 , possibly in Warrington . At the age of 11 he moved to Liverpool seeking employment. His mother Sarah permitted him to move from his home to Liverpool on the condition that he was to lodge with his employer. His employer was Richard Tate of the Tate tobacco and snuff manufacturers. He became wealthy by working his way up through the company, then forming a partnership with Joseph Leigh in a separate tobacco merchant company before marrying Elizabeth Tate, his boss' daughter. In 1803, a year after the marriage, he gained ownership of Tate's after buying the company from Thomas Moss Tate. He retired and sold off the company. He then built houses and terraced gardens in the Edge Hill area of Liverpool and excavated a labyrinth of seemingly pointless tunnels and cellars underneath them. His houses were an early indicator of his eccentricity. It is said that some had coal cellars that could hold 200 Tonne s of coal as well as multi-level cellars. Despite the unusual designs, many wealthy people wanted to live in the houses because of their desirable location. Williamson's tenants included artist Cornelius Henderson and philosopher James Martineau . Williamson died aged 71 on May 1 1840 , leaving no children. The tunnelling ceased immediately upon his death and never resumed. The tunnels were abandoned and rubbish was allowed to accumulate from 1840 onwards. Williamson was buried in the Tate family vault at St. Thomas' Church, situated at the intersection of Park Lane and Paradise Street in Liverpool city centre. The church was demolished in 1906 and in later years the land was used as an NCP car park. During the summer of 2005, excavations took place on the site as part of the Paradise Street Redevelopment . On October 23 2005 the gravestone of Williamson was revealed for the first time in nearly a century. Sadly the stone was broken in the middle but the inscription on the stone records that Joseph Williamson and his wife Elizabeth Tate are buried there, along with her mother Hannah Tate, father Richard Tate and grandmother Ann Tate. THE TOURIST ATTRACTION After Williamson's death the tunnels became little more than rubbish tips. In Septemer 2002 the 'Williamson Tunnels Heritage Centre' was established as a Tourist Attraction allowing visitors to see an uncovored section of the tunnels. At this point the rubbish was down to a reasonable level but it is still apparent. The ongoing research and excavations done on the site by the managers and volunteers mean that this unique labyrinth is constantly changing. The plan of the tunnels and the tours themselves are regularly updated. The entrance to the Williamson Tunnels Heritage Centre is situated at The Old Stableyard on Smithdown Lane. The stableyard once belonged to Liverpool Corporation , who originally kept dust carts there, and later it was used for the Lord Mayor's coach and horses. Many of the stable blocks were demolished after the yard fell into disuse in 1993. It is now also the headquarters of the Liverpool Stagecoach Company who keep two of their horses in stable here throughout the year. There are ongoing discussions between developers and enthusiasts regarding the stableyard site. It is hoped that a compromise may be found that will safeguard the tunnels for the future. TIMELINE
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